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Today’s politics is all about Murphy treble trouble. The problem is we don’t know which one is most responsible for the trouble.
Is it the reprogrammed Verona? Or two-job Dara? Or Minister for the House of Cards Eoghan?
In truth it’s a combination of all three. The Murphy combination has conspired to make it a bad week for Fine Gael. The byelections results were bad enough (and Verona Murphy personified it).
Then the disclosure Dara Murphy was claiming his full salary and allowances as a TD while doing another job abroad made Fine Gael seem as bad (or worse) than Fianna Fáil.
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And today Eoghan Murphy faces a no-confidence motion that could (theoretically) collapse the Government and give us a Christmas election.
And we will be reminded of all three today in the Dáil. First, the four new TDs fresh from their byelection victories (Mark Ward, Joe O’Brien, Pádraig O’Sullivan, and Malcolm Byrne) will be paraded by their parties.
With a Fine Gael three-line whip being imposed we will catch a sighting of Dara Murphy too (more of him anon).
Fine Gael is about to lose its status as the largest party in the Dáil to Fianna Fáíl. Fianna Fáíl won two seats, Fine Gael failed to hold Frances Fitzgerald’s seat in Dublin Mid West, Peter Fitzpatrick resigned last year and Dara Murphy is about to resign – it’s not looking good.
And so the Social Democrats have tabled a motion of no confidence in Eoghan Murphy. I’m sure the micro party will be reminded of its own less-than-stellar performances in the byelections, which has led to questions about if it can make any gains.
Fiach Kelly has been crunching the numbers and has concluded Eoghan Murphy will survive the motion, although some Independent TDs have yet to declare their hand.
Fiach writes: “The Government has previously relied on Independents such as Michael Lowry, Denis Naughten, Noel Grealish and Michael Harty - but this group of deputies has not yet said how they will vote.”
Mattie McGrath, the Tipperary Independent TD, indicated he will not do anything to precipitate a general election. “What is it going to achieve? Who wants a general election in Christmas week? I am definitely not supporting the Government but does the country need an election in Christmas week?”
And the other Murphy?
Yes, we have to talk about Dara. As we report today, he’s secured a great little number over in Europe – the “cabinet expert”, no less, in the cabinet of Bulgarian commissioner Mariya Gabriel at an expected salary of about €150,000 per annum.
Fianna Fáil has complained to the Members Interest Committee that his low attendance on sitting days has been in breach of the Ethics in Public Office Act. But that inquiry is not going anywhere.
As soon as Murphy resigns his seat (expected this week) the inquiry will have to come to an end. Here is our report on it.
What will be most interesting is to see how Taoiseach Leo Varadkar responds to this situation, or if Dara Murphy himself will speak. If he does, it will be the first time the Cork TD will have spoken in the Dáil since 2017.
He issued a self-serving statement on Saturday night that had hues of Maria Bailey about it, in terms of his entitlement. His defence that others have a second job does not hold water. Those who have outside professions still manage to fulfil all their parliamentary duties.
How will Taoiseach Leo Varadkar respond? He seemed to defend Murphy over the weekend, making vacuous remarks about the important work he was doing in Europe (for a Fine Gael-affiliated political group). Privately, Fine Gael TDs have said that what happened was unacceptable, and there is anger at Murphy for his decision to take double-pay.
Best reads
A great story from David Raleigh on how the driver of the new executive mayor of Limerick will earn more than local councillors.
The National Maternity Hospital has been unable to print a hard copy of electronic records relating to an abortion investigation.
Rosemary Keogh argues there is no excuse for not funding the disability sector.
Guardian journalist John Harris is always worth reading, and here is an authoritative piece on the Labour pro-Leave constituencies in the midlands and north under threat from a Tory surge.
Playbook
Cabinet is meeting this morning. Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney is away.
Dáil
There is a full schedule today, but the real action happens toward the end of the day at 8pm when the motion of no confidence in Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy begins. The debate is set for two hours and will generate a lot of heat and rancour. We will find out at 10pm if the grinches have stolen Christmas.
While the Government’s numbers dipped to more dismal levels at the weekend, it’s likely most non-aligned Independent TDs will row in behind them. The Government chief whip has ordered all TDs to be present. That means a rare (and perhaps last) appearance by Dara Murphy.
The other big event of the day will be the four new TDs being feted by their parties on the plinth before entering the chamber for the first time.
Leaders’ Questions is at 2pm where Leo Varadkar will be asked about at least one of the Murphys (Eoghan, Verona or Dara) at least once.
Later in the afternoon Minister for Business Heather Humphreys will answer priority questions.
Two Bills are up for debate: the Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2018 and the Microbead (Prohibition) Bill 2019.
Seanad Éireann
We are getting a bit of work out of our senators today. They are discussing two Finance Bills, the second to do with tax appeals and prospectus regulations.
Committees
The Committee on Issues affecting Travellers is discussing education and literacy. Among those attending is Joe McHugh, Minister for Education.
The Committee on Communications resumes its discussions on information lifted from what it calls digital assistants.
The Finance Committee sounds all cloak and dagger. It’s discussing “certain matters” relating to the Department of Public Expenditure with Robert Watts.
Joint Committee on Irish language: Ag breathnú ar Roinn an Taoisigh agus an méid atá déanta ag an Roinn chun an Ghaeilge a shlánú.
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